At a glance

The remote eastern seaboard of Russia is a vast wilderness inhabited by Kamchatka Brown bears, Red fox, sea otters, whales and an astonishing array of birds

The eastern seaboard of Russia dominates the North Pacific, yet is so remote very few ever visit it. This isolation has protected one of its most valuable assets - a vast wilderness inhabited by Kamchatka Brown bears, Red fox, sea otters, whales and an astonishing array of birds. On this journey from Anadyr to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy we will make numerous landings along these remote coastlines so that you can discover for yourself this untamed and beautiful landscape. We will select sites that few people visit such as river mouths, fiords, bays and islands that in our experience offer the natural history enthusiast, the photographer, the historian and travellers the most unique of opportunities.

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Anadyr.

Depending on your time of arrival you may have the opportunity to explore Anadyr, the administrative centre of the Chukotka region, before getting to know your fellow voyagers and crew on board the Spirit of Enderby. There will be introductory lectures, an introduction to the staff and ship and a series of compulsory briefings and drills.See more images and videos

2Day 2Visit the town of Egvekino.

There is more to this small town on the shores of Kresta Bay than first meets the eye. It was built by Gulag prisoners in 1946 as a port to supply the Lul’tin mining complex some 200km inland, the prisoners also constructed the road to the mine. Today the Lul’tin mining complex is closed but the town and Port of Egvekinot is the terminus for a new road through to Pevek and its associated gold mines. The town has an excellent museum which we plan to visit. Egvekinot is only a few miles south of the Arctic Circle and today we will travel by Ural (a 6WD ‘go anywhere’ Russian truck) to the point where the Arctic Circle cross’s the road to Lul’tin and then some distance beyond so that you can see and experience the tundra habitat which dominates so much of Chukotka.See more images and videos

3Day 3Exploring Bukhta Gavriila.

This coastline is rich in marine mammals and one creature we will be looking for, in particular, is the walrus. The animals do regularly move between locations, so finding them is always very much a matter of luck, although we have had success here in the past. In the afternoon we hope to visit a well-known walrus haul out lying between Meinypil’gyno and Cape Navarin. We also plan a landing in Bukhta Gavriila. The bukhta (or bay) was named after Commander Vitus Bering’s ship, the St Gabriel, of the First Kamchatka Expedition. Behind the expansive beach there is a lagoon we can explore for waterfowl and waders. We may also visit what used to be the oldest weather station in Chukotka and the southernmost in the Arctic, which is now abandoned. Cape Navarin marks the place where the land bridge to North America began when sea levels were much lower. Because of strong tides around the cape there is an abundance of food and it is not uncommon to see large numbers of seabirds and good numbers of Gray whales which often congregate here too.See more images and videos

4Day 4Visit Pika River and the Meinypil’gyno settlement.

We start the day with a visit to the delta of Pika River – a well-known walrus haul out and one of the few places in the southern part of the range that still get thousands of animals coming to rest on the beach. Later in the day, we visit Meinypil’gyno, a small settlement located on a 40km long shingle spit. It is a traditional village although renovated under the recent Chukotka government. But the spirit is still alive and the village ensemble will perform for us some of their traditional dances, a chance to enjoy real Chukchi hospitality. Meinypil’gyno is also an important breeding spot for many species of migratory birds, including Red knot and critically endangered Spoon-billed sandpiper. Even though the breeding season will be over by September, we have a chance of getting migrants on their way south and see the location where the research team is working hard to save the Spoon-billed sandpiper.See more images and videos

5Day 5Landing at Bukhta Natalii.

Along the Koryak Coast there are many beautiful fiords (bukhtas or bays) and none are more beautiful than Bukhta Natalii. This fiord has two smaller fiords that drain into it from the south; called Bukhta Pavla and Bukhta Petra (named after St Peter and St Paul by Commander Vitus Bering). We will cruise to the head of Bukhta Pavla and make a landing. This will be a great opportunity to explore the inland as we hike from one bay to be picked up by the ship in another. The magnificent mountain landscapes and tundra vegetation will surround us, along with the possibility of sighting Snow sheep, as they were often seen in the area. There is a historic walrus haul out on Bogoslova Island which guards the entrance to these fiords.See more images and videos

6Day 6Zodiac cruising on Tintikun Lagoon.

Much of the southern Govena Peninsula was recently made into a state reserve. There are a number of fiords included in the reserve; one of the most spectacular is Tintikun Lagoon. This fiord was blocked by a large terminal moraine during the last period of glaciation. A shallow river surrounded by jagged mountains, glaciers and forested slopes has breached the moraine, allowing access to one of the most picturesque locations found anywhere in the world. We take the Zodiacs onto the lake and intend to make several landings with Eurasian nutcracker, Dusky warbler, Siberian rubythroat and Siberian accentor amongst the possibilities. There is also a large population of Brown bears and these should be feeding in and around the river mouths that drain into the head of the lagoon.See more images and videos

We will start the morning in brown bear country, an undisturbed habitat within the Koryakskiy Reserve, where we will go bear watching and Zodiac cruising along the coast. Brown bears come down to the sea coast and into the nearby hills very frequently, and the area is completely protected and rarely visited.
In the afternoon we visit Verkhoturova Island, where we have a chance to climb to a seabird colony. The breeding season will be over, however, some of the birds that should still be around the colony include Tufted and Horned puffins; pigeon, Common and Brunnich’s guillemots and also parrakeet and Least auklets. Pelagic cormorants also occur in large numbers.
On nearby rocky islets there is a regular non-breeding haul out of Steller Sea lions.See more images and videos

8Day 8Exploring Karaginskiy Island.

A few miles to the south of Verhoturova Island is the much larger Karaginskiy Island. Here we encounter some of the first ‘forests’ of the voyage. This is a change from the tundra that we have seen, a sure sign that we are getting further south. There are a large number of Red foxes that live on the island and many migratory birds come here to their breeding grounds and on the way south. The autumn is the best time for the wild berries and we can marvel at the richness of the local flora, as many of them would be at their best. A proposed landing site is a patchwork of boggy tundra, ponds and shingle spits. An interesting range of waders can be found here including Pacific Golden plover, Red-necked stint and Red-necked phalarope. The ponds also support a range of waterfowl and previously we have encountered Red-throated diver, Bean goose, Greater Scaup and Long-tailed duck. Potential passerines include Kamchatka Leaf- warbler, Dusky warbler, Blue-throat, Red-throated pipits and Eastern Yellow wagtail.
On nearby rocky islets there is a regular non-breeding haul out of Steller Sea lions.
See more images and videos

9Day 9First of two days spent Zodiac cruising and landing on the Commander Islands.

The wildlife-rich Commander Islands were first discovered by Commander Vitus Bering when his ship was wrecked here in 1741. He perished on the island along with many of his men. The reports from those that survived led to a ‘fur rush’ and the settlement of the islands. There are two large islands (Bering and Medny) with two smaller islands Ariy Karmen and Toporkov. These islands are located at the western extremity of the Aleutian chain. We intend to explore the islands through a combination of landings and Zodiac cruises. We plan to stop at the village of Nikolskoye, the museum is reputedly one of the best in the Russian Far East and amongst many other items it has one of the very few preserved full-size Sea cow skeletons. Birding around the village is also excellent and we should find Rock sandpiper, Mongolian plover, Glaucous-winged gull and Pechora pipit, with the possibilities on subsequent landings including Rock ptarmigan, Buff-bellied pipit and Grey-crowned rosy finch. After our visit to the village we make several landings. We plan to visit the fur seal rookery at North-West Cape and Zodiac cruise around the impressive bird colony at Ariy Kamen. We will also possibly visit the gravesite of Commander Vitus Bering or the remarkable Medny Island with its bird cliffs and Sea otters.See more images and videos

10Day 10Second of two days spent Zodiac cruising and landing on the Commander Islands.

Olga Bay is a part of the very large Kronotskiy Reserve, which also includes the world-famous Valley of the Geysers. The habitat is quite different to what we will have been experiencing before with lush Kamchatka forests coming right down to the beach line. There is a possibility we will see Brown bears and other forest fauna, as well as multiple bird species that live in this habitat. The seas around Olga Bay are frequented by large numbers of Gray whales that are usually quite friendly to the visiting boats, if the conditions are right we will take a Zodiac whale-watching cruise. The rising volcanoes in the background will provide a beautiful setting to explore real Kamchatka wilderness.See more images and videos

12Day 12Zodiac cruise along the Zhupanova River and afternoon visit to Bukhta Bechevinskaya.

This morning we make our way along the Zhupanova River by Zodiac. This journey allows us to explore a river habitat which is common in Kamchatka. The Kamchatka Rivers (of which there are over 1,800) are important ecosystems that support a wide variety of wildlife. They are especially important for salmon spawning – one of Kamchatka’s valuable natural resources. Steller’s Sea eagles are known to nest in the lower reaches of the river and we are very likely to see many young of the year as well as a few adults still hanging around their nesting sites. Other birds that breed here will have finished breeding at the time of our visit but some of them should still be present; there will be waterfowl, gulls and terns, possibly including the Aleutian tern. There is also the possibility of spotting Brown bears, Red foxes and Musk rats. In the afternoon, depending on the permits there is a possibility of visiting Cape Shipunsky and Bechevinskaya Bay where there was a secret military submarine base during the Cold War. It was completely abandoned after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it provides an amazing image of the face of the Cold War. Alternatively we may cruise nearby to Krasheninnikova Island – a rocky island that has a number of seabirds nesting on it, including Spectacled guillemot and some other Bering Sea endemics. As we spend our last night at sea, celebrate and recap your voyage highlights with fellow passengers, there will be much to remember.See more images and videos

13Day 13Disembark Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy.

During the night the Spirit of Enderby will enter Avacha Bay which is one of the greatest natural harbours in the world. On the shores of Avacha Bay is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, the capital and administrative centre of the Kamchatka Region. The town was founded in the 1700s by Commander Vitus Bering during the Second Kamchatka Expedition. All through the Cold War it was home to a significant part of Russia’s Pacific Fleet which included a large submarine base. The city and region was ‘closed’ to all foreign visitors until 1992. After breakfast you will disembark and we will provide complimentary transfers to a downtown hotel and the airport. To allow time for disembarkation procedures we do not recommend booking flights before 13:00hrs.See more images and videos

Your images

Guided Group

The Spirit of Enderby takes a maximum of 50 passengers.. The Exodus group forms part of the ship’s complement, enjoying the relaxed, intimate and informal atmosphere, which breaks into smaller groups to facilitate the frequent excursions. We offer these cruises in conjunction with Heritage Expeditions, and Exodus participants will join an international group, not all of whom have booked through Exodus. Occasionally some of these may be younger than 18 years old, the Exodus' stated minimum age for this trip.

Activity level

You are healthy, enjoy the outdoors and want a relaxing trip. No experience is required.

What's included

What's included

All meals while on the ship

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout and qualified Expedition Staff

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request)

Visas or vaccinations

Landing fees of $500 USD (paid locally)

Accommodation details

Polar Adventure Ship

The Jewel of the Russian Far East is offered on the Spirit of Enderby, a Polar Adventure ship. Full board accommodation on the ship, generally on a twin share basis in a variety of cabin types, all with shared or en suite facilities.

These are small (approx.100 passengers) ice rated vessels well qualified for Polar waters. Intimate adventures are always more enjoyable with like-minded passengers and staff, so these voyages are for people who like flexible itineraries and plenty to keep them busy. Activities include frequent Zodiac excursions, trekking, kayaking and many hours on deck in areas that other ships only dream about accessing. Food and staff are superb and every guest benefits from the technical advances of these superb ex-research vessels. The extreme conditions of the Arctic and Antarctic are not to be trifled with: it is shocking the lack of respect some large cruise ships show them. Rest assured our Polar Adventure Ships enable any traveller to maximize their experience sensitively in the Poles.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa

All nationalities require a visa for Russia. The visa invitation will be obtained by Exodus and issued to clients to use alongside their visa application: this letter takes 7 working days to issue.
As of the 10th December 2014, the diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Russian Federation in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Russian Visa Application Centres in London and Edinburgh will start collecting biometric data (fingerprints) of all foreign nationals over 12 years of age for each of their Russian visa applications. As such, all UK-based travellers will need to apply for their visa in person at the Russian Visa Application Centres in London or Edinburgh.
Those based outside of the UK need to check visa requirements in their country of issue. Further information can be found at http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk/tourist.html
It is your responsibility to arrange a visa prior to travel, but we will provide you with more information after booking to help and advice with this. The cost of the visa for British nationals is currently £50 plus service charges of approximately £32.
For more information please go to http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/travelink/Russia.pdf
There are no specific health risks.

Holiday style

Travelling Conditions
The voyages are designed to be as flexible as possible, taking advantage of circumstances and events as they occur, as well as passengers’ wishes and particular interests wherever possible. The atmosphere onboard is relaxed and friendly with expedition staff, including naturalists and Polar experts, on hand and the opportunity to mingle with people from all over the world. The ship is kept warm, clean and comfortable with a wet / mud room in which to hang gear and store boots ready for the next adventure.

On the Zodiac cruises you are sitting still for most of the time with the potential for some sea spray and a cold headwind - if you are not dressed appropriately you will get cold. On the shore excursions, the majority of landings are ‘wet’ which means that the Zodiacs beach and you are helped to slide into the ankle deep shore break before walking up onto dry land (wellington boots are recommended).

There are, of course, no paths, so be prepared for slippery, rough terrain and sometimes fairly deep snow. Back on board the cosy ship after each adventure, you can have a sauna and/or a hot shower and then relax with a tea, coffee, hot chocolate or something stronger from the bar.

Eating & drinking

All meals while on the ship included.

The ships galley offers good quality service and cuisine throughout, with excellent chefs preparing international menus including vegetarian dishes, accompanied by a wide variety of drinks from around the world on sale.

Breakfast: Buffet style - unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal.

Lunch: Three course set meal, or the occasional buffet or BBQ.

Dinner: Three courses with a starter of soup, salad or anti-pasto, a choice of three mains with at least one vegetarian and one seafood option and a dessert of sweet pudding or ice cream or fruit, tea and coffee.

Reviews & community

An amazing remote trip with stunning scenery but only occasional wildlife sightings at this time. Weather was bad first 3 days so missed many interesting landings.. Our trip's staff unfortunately were not very professional or were the lecturers in their subjects.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Meeting a huge male brown bear on a beach, then entertaining us catching salmon under our noses!!. Fantastic after 10 days of only few sightings too far away.
Stunning scenery and walks.

What did you think of your group leader?

Not particularly good.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Go earlier than September to have more chance of better weather so therefore wildlife sightings. The remotness is amazing, so quite, natural with the stunning scenery to walk through.
Travel light! No need for jumpers etc, only layers for zodiac cruises &amp; wellingtons provided which are fine for the walks, therefore don't take hiking boots.
Definitely worth the trip but don't have high expectations as in Arctic or Antarctica for wildlife.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We were unlucky with the weather &amp; wildlife sightings. Also, the ship we had was very 'tired'.
But great food, and passenger company excellent. All very 'like minded' from many countries.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

How do I join the Departure Lounge (forum) in the Exodus Community?

To view the Forums, including the Departure Lounge, you do not need to be member of the Exodus Community, simply click on the Community link at the top of every page and read the posts in their respective sections by entering the Departure Lounge, or one of the other options in the list on the page.

To join in a discussion, if already a member, please sign in to your Exodus website account (not related to booking reservations) to contribute to the Forum. If you are not a member of the Exodus Community, you can register by clicking the 'Sign in' at the top of every webpage and select ‘Register’ within the drop down panel.

When viewing the Forum area of the website, as you scroll through the 'Rooms' which are set out by 'travel months' during the current year within the Departure Lounge. You can then select the 'month' of intended travel, then filter the list of trips that have already been created by fellow travellers to see if your trip is listed. If the trip you are travelling on is not in the list, you can start the process by clicking on the 'Post new forum topic' link above the list on the same page. If you do see your trip within the list, select it to view the 'discussion' by your fellow travellers and you can join in by completing the 'Post your comment' section below the discussion thread.

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We hope you enjoy using the Departure Lounge to meet your fellow travellers and continue to contribute right up to the start of your journey with Exodus.

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